Apparatus for applying a plurality of patches to envelope blanks in an envelope making machine



Nov. 5, 1968 E. B. BERKOWITZ 3,408,908

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A PLURALITY OF PATCHES TO ENVELOPE BLANKS IN AN ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 v C s Eugene fiBer/(an f2, deceased. Carol/he Hen/burger Ber/fom'fz flbrah am E. Maya/m, Exec Ufa/:5.

" ATTORNEY NOV. 1968 E. B. BERKOWITZ 3,408,908

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A PLURALITY OF PATCHES T0 ENVELOPE BLANKS IN AN ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINE Filed July 17. 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Abraham 5 Mega/I27, fxecmora.

ATTORNEY Caroline Mambo/yer fierkolw'iz 9 1968 E. B. BERKOWITZ 3,

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A PLURALITY OF PATCHES TO ENVELOPE BLANKS IN AN ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet s E N TOR. 2,.0eceqse lye/ Berkmwfz 0/ I NV fogei e B, Ber/10M) Caro/me Wen bu fibre/mm 5. M0 07, fxecufars.

A TTORNEY United States Patent O 3,408,908 APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A PLURALITY OF PATCHES TO ENVELOPE BLANKS IN AN EN- VELOPE MAKING MACHINE Eugene Bertram Berkowitz, deceased, late of Kansas City, Mo., by Caroline Newburger Berkowitz and Abraham E. Margolin, executors, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Tension Envelope Corporation, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 17, 1967, Ser. No. 654,014 13 Claims. (Cl. 93-61) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A plurality of patches are applied on an envelope blank in overlapping or partially overlapping relation'in the direction of travel through the machine by mounting patch web rolls and feeding the patch webs so that the patch webs overlap as they are fed into the patch cutters and providing pick-up members in line with the patch cutters for applying the patches on the blanks.

This invention relates to an apparatus for cutting and applying a plurality of patches upon'a paper web or blank in the process of making envelopes.

The use of envelopes with staggered windows in one or both panels has become popular, but the cost of making such envelopes is high, since they cannot be produced inexpensively on present high speed envelope making machines. To make envelopes of this style in standard present day high speed envelope making machines, a single patch must be applied large enough to cover all of the window openings. Thus it is obvious that this method is extremely wasteful of patch material, which is not only expensive but adds to the weight of the envelope. The only other course is to apply one of the patches in a separate patch applying machine and then to transfer the patched blanks to the envelope folding and gumming machine, in which the second patch can be applied during formation of the blanks into envelopes. This method involves extra handling of the blanks, so that the saving in material is offset, or more than offset, by the cost of extra handling of the blanks.

Copending application of Richard Kranz, Ser. No. 543,105, filed Apr. 18, 1966, provides for making envelopes with staggered patches that are completely laterally offset from each other on a standard high speed rotary envelope making machine, using only sufficient pat-ch material to cover each patch area or opening individually, thereby eliminating waste and cost of extra handling, but the apparatus covered in application Ser. No. 543,105 cannot make envelopes in which the patches therein overlie or lap each other or any portions thereof, along the path of travel through the machine.

Envelopes having overlying or partially overlapping patches are desirable for many uses, for example, an envelope having a patch covering a window opening in one panel, and a patch covering a registering or partially registering window opening in the other panel; an envelope having patches covering window openings that lap each other in the same panel; an envelope having a window opening in one panel covered with a transparent patch and an overlying patch to provide a small pocket to hold a card with an address thereon in register with the window opening, said patches being secured to the same panel or to the front and black panels, respectively; an envelope with a plurality of inner pockets that may be applied one over the other upon the same panel or on the front and back panels, respectively; and many other styles of envelopes having overlapping or partially lapping patches.

ice

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide an envelope making machine for making envelopes having patches located one above another or having patches overlapping or partially overlapping in a single pass through the machine.

The invention generally utilizes in the main a rotary envelope making machine through which a web for making individual blanks or the individual blanks are. fed to a cutter mechanism having one or 'more cutters for making required openings in the web or blanks.

A preferred form of the invention consists of means for supporting a plurality of rolls of Web material in tandem in such machine and means to draw webs therefrom in any overlying or lateral relationship to separate patch cutoff mechanisms for supplying individual patches in tandem to a common pickup cylinder that receives the patches and deposits them in proper sequence onto the envelope blanks, adhesive being applied to one of the mating surfaces. A

The invention also contemplates separate adhesive applicating mechanisms, separate patch cutoff mechanisms, and separate patch applying means, so located that one patch may be applied and the following patch applied thereon, or to make any of the other of the above mentioned styles of envelopes having a plurality of patches.

In carrying out the invention, improved structure is provided as illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of a portion of a rotary envelope making machine equipped with patch applying mechanism constructed and ananged in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the mechanism of FIG. 1, with the exception the window cutting mechanism has not been included.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section of the patching mechanism, to more clearly illustrate the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates the various operations on a blank to apply a plurality of patches in accordance with the present invention, the sequence of operations being designated I, II, III and IV.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section through a rotary envelope making machine equipped with the modification of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front and rear view of the finished envelope from the blanks of FIG. 4, parts being broken away and in section to show the relative position of the patches.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an envelope having a different position of the patches, both being secured to one panel by the envelope making machine of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an opened-up envelope having a transparent patch covering a window opening in one panel and a patch applied to the other panel to provide a pocket to hold therein a small address card with the address thereon in registry with the window, and which patches are applied in the envelope making machine of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an opened-up envelope having one patch applied directly over the other in the envelope making machine of the present invention.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a portion of a conventional rotary envelope making machine equipped with a patch applying mechanism 2 constructed in accordance with the present invention.

The envelope making machine '1 includes a stack supporting means 3 for a stack of blanks 4 to be drawn into the machine in consecutive order, with the rear panel portions leading and the closure flap portions trailing, for delivery to a cutter mechanism 5 wherein windows 6 and 7 are cut into the blanks in positions partially overlapping v 3 th di st sns t avelj a th bl nks p ss en. a rotary cutter 8 and a backup roller 9, the cutter roller having cutters 10 and 11 adjusta'bly positioned on the periphery thereof to cut the window openings 6 and 7 in the blanks as required. One arrangement of openings is.

shown in the blank I in FIG. 4, the window opening 6 being provided in the panel portion 12 and the opening 7 being provided in the-panel portion 13 of the blank. When the envelope is completed, the window openings 6 and 7 are on opposite faces of the envelope and partially overlie each other. It may also be desired to cut the openings 6 and 7 both in one or the other of the panel portions 12 or 13. In the illustrated instance, the window opening 6 is relatively long and narrow, while the window opening 7 is more of a shape approaching a square. It willbe noted that the window 6 partially extends in front of the leading edge of the window 7. This is only one arrangement of windows that can be patched with the present invention, and it is to be understood that various other arrangements and sizes of openingsmay be cut in the blanks to suit the purpose for which the envelopes are used. It is also possible that use of the present invention may contemplate passing of the blanks through the blank cutting mechanism to cut a single opening, or to skip the cutting operation entirely, also depending upon the design and use of the. finished envelope.

From the cutting mechanism 5, the blanks are guided between upper and lower pressure rollers 14 and 15 to an adhesive applying mechanism 16, where, in this example, adhesive as indicated at 17 and 18 on the envelope blank II, FIG. 4, is applied around marginal edges of the openings 6 and 7, or to the areas on which patches are to be applied by the patch applying mechanism 2 of the machine, in the case where no openings have been desired, as more fully described. If desired, adhesive may be applied to the patch instead, for example, in the manner shown in the patent to Welsh, United States No. 2,880,65 6.

The adhesive applying mechanism 16 comprises a rotary adhesive applicator 19 having applicating faces 20 and 21 adjustably applied thereon to receive adhesive from a body of adhesive in a pan 22. The adhesive is picked up from the pan by a roller 23 rotating in contact with a spreading roller 24, which, in turn, makes contact with a transfer roller 25 to distribute a film of adhesive on the applicating faces 20 and 21. It is to be understood that the cutting and adhesive mechanisms operate in timed relation so that the adhesive is applied around the marginal edges of the window openings 6 and 7. A drum 27 having suction ports 28 seizes the leading edges of the blanks and carries them consecutively around the cylindrical face 29 of the drum v 27 to carry them onto a blank collating mechanism 30. The blanks are patched while they are curved about the drum 27.

Up to this point, the machine and parts thereof are substantially conventional and are well known to those skilled in the envelope machine art.

However, the cutting and adhesive mechanisms 5 and 16 of present envelope making machines are usually set up for cutting a single opening and to apply adhesive for securing a single patch as the blanks are carried about the periphery of the drum 27. Also, if the rotary cutter 8 and adhesive applicator 19 have been equipped with the second cutter and the second adhesive applicator as described, only a single patch is applied large enough to cover both openings. This is becausein present envelope making machines as heretofore constructed, there is no provision for cutting and applying separate patches to cover individually window openings having the arrangement of the windows shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The present invention provides a novel means for cutting and applying a separate and individual patch over each opening, as now to be described.

Suitably carried by the envelope making machine, preferably on the side frames 31 and 32 of the envelope making machine, are pairs of brackets 33-34 and 35-36, with the brackets 35-36 arranged forwardly of the brackets 33-34. The brackets 33 and 34 are relatively short and mount a spindle 37 for carrying a roll 38 of web material 39 having a width sufiicient to cover the window openings 7 and overlap with the adhesive. The brackets 35 and 36 are higher than the brackets 33 and 34, as shown in FIG. 1, to carry a spindle 40 supporting a roll 41 of web material 42 which is of a width to cover the window openings 6. The rolls .38 and 41 thus arranged facilitate drawing out the webs to separate cutoff mechanisms 43 and 44, respectively.

The cutoff mechanisms 43 and 44 each include a rotary cutter 45 and 46 equipped with knives 47 and 48, respectively. The rotary cutters are rotatably carried between the side members 49 and 50 of a frame 51 that may be carried above and forwardly of the drum 27 on the side frames of the machine, as best shown in FIG. 2. Also carried between the side members 49 and 50 are anvils 52 and 53 which support the webs to be cut by the rotating knives 47 and 48.

The webs are withdrawn from the rolls 38 and' 41 over guide rollers 54 and 55 by pairs of driven rollers 56 and 57. The driven rollers 56 and 57 operate at speeds to advance measured amounts of webs 39 and 42 between the rotary cutters 45-46 and the anvils 52-53 upon each revolution of the cutters to cut off the proper lengths of patches 58 and 59 necessary to cover the window openings 7 and 6. The patches 58 and 59 thus out are seized by a patch applying cylinder 6!) having a surface 61 forming tangents with the rotary cutters 43 and 44. The surface 61 is provided with suction ports 62 and 63 to seize the forward edges of the cut-off patches 58 and 59 and carry the patches in proper timed relation to deposit the patches over the respective window openings 7 and 6 of the blank then carried by the suction drum 27.

The patched blank is seized from the suction drum 27 by a transfer roller 64 to deliver the patched blanks to the collating mechanism 30, previously mentioned, Whereby the blanks are collated to expose the closure flaps thereof to an adhesive applicator prior to passing of the blanks through a drier (not shown) to the blank folding section (also not shown) of the envelope making machine.

While the patch cutting and applying mechanisms of the present invention are illustrated between the supply stack supporting means 3 and the collating mechanism 30, it is also within the scope of the invention to locate the patch applying mechanism as described between the blank decollating means and the blank folding mechanism of a rotary envelope making machine.

In the modified machine illustrated in FIG. 5, adhesive is applied to the blanks 4 for securing one patch by a rotary adhesive applicator 65 having an applicating face 66, the adhesive being supplied from a pan 67 by transfer rollers 68, as previously described. The blank 4 is then seized by a suction drum 69 and is drawn around the periphery thereof where a patch 70 is rolled onto the adhesive. The patch is supplied from a roll 71 of web material 72, the roll 71 being carried on a spindle 73 supported from the side frames 74 of the machine on brackets 75. The web 72 is withdrawn from the roll 71 over a guide roller 76 by rotary driven feed rolls 77 and 78 which feed a measured amount of web to a rotary cutter 79 cooperating with an anvil 80, similar to the cutting mechanism previously described in the machine of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The cut-off patch 70 is seized by a roller 81, similar to the roller 60, and deposited on the adhesive, to complete application of the first patch.

The blank with the patch 70 thereon continues its movement in guided relation between sets of pressure rollers 82 and 83 to a second adhesive applicator 84 having an applicating face 85 supplied with adhesive from a source 86, similar to the pan 67 and adhesive transfer rollers 65. The blank is seized onto a suction drum 87 and conveyed about the periphery thereof, similar to the suction drum 69. As the blank is carried about the suc- .5 tion.drum 87, a patch applying roller-88. carries .a patch 89 into contact with .thezadhesive area appliedby the applicating face 85. The patch 89 is withdrawn from a roll 90 of web material 91 carried on a spindle92 supported .by brackets. 93 from the side frames .74 of the machine. The web 91 is Withdrawn over a guide roller 94 by feed rollers.95 and 96 to feed a measured amount of material to a cutoif mechanism including a rotary cutter 97 and an anvil 98. The blank, with the two patches 70 and 81 thereon, continues its travel to a collating mechanism 99, as in the first described form of the invention.

The operation of the machine as described has been carried through the description of the various mechanisms, however, in using the form of machine illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 to patch the blank shown in FIG. 4, the-blanks 4 are placed in a stack to be fed singly in successive order to the window cutting me'chaniim 5. The cutters and 11 have been provided on the rotor 8 to makethe cuts 6 and 7 in the desired places on the blank. Also, adhesive applicators and 21 are correspondingly arranged upon the adhesive applicator roller 19 to deposit adhesive around the marginal edges of the openings 6 and 7. Rolls 38 and 41 of webbing 39 and 42 having the required width to cover the openings are applied on the spindles 37 and 49 so that the rolls register transversely with the adhesive applicators 20 and 21, With the machine in operation, the blanks are withdrawn one at a time from the stack in regular order and passed to the cutter mechanism 5, where the openings are cut, and passed on to the adhesive applicator mechanism 16, where the adhesive is applied around the openings 6 and 7. The blank with the adhesive thereon is then seized by suction from the ports 28 and carried about the periphery of the drum 27 to the patch applying roller 60, which deposits the patches 59 and 58 carried thereon into rolling contact with the adhesive areas 17 and 18, the patches being supplied from the rolls 38 and 41 by the feed rolls 56 and 57 feeding measured amounts of the web material 39 and 42 to the cutter mechanisms 43 and 44. The patched blanks then pass on in continuous movement to the collating mechanism 30.

When the blanks of FIG. 4 are completely folded into envelopes, the envelopes appear as illustrated in FIG. 6, where it will be noted that the patch 59 overlies a part of the patch 58 in the finished envelope.

The machine illustrated and described will also make the envelope of FIG. 6, as well as the envelope of FIG. 7, wherein the openings 6 and 7 are both cut in the panel portion 13 of the envelope. In this form of invention, the patches do not overlie each other, but the patch 58 is partially coextensive with the patch 59'.

The mounting of the rolls of web material on independent axes and offset from each other, together with the separate cutoff mechanisms for the webs, provides for Positioning of the rolls and cutoff mechanisms to feed the webs one directly over the other to make envelopes of the type disclosed in FIG. 8, in which a transparent patch 100 is secured over a window opening 101 and a transparent patch 102 is secured to the rear panel in completely overlying registry with the patch 100. In this instance the window cutting mechanism is equipped with a single cutter to cut out the opening 101. Also, the adhesive applicator on the rotary adhesive applicator 19 which applies the adhesive for the patch 102 is of U shape, to leave one marginal edge 103 of the patch loose to provide a pocket 104 with an insert opening. In this way, a card or slip of smaller size than the envelope pocket is supported with an address thereon in registry with the opening 101.

The provision of various shaped applicator faces to rotary applicators is well known in the envelope industry.

The form of invention shown in FIG. 5, which employs a separate adhesive and patch applicator for each patch, is especially adapted for applying large patches, or one patch directly over the other, to make the type of envelope illustrated in FIG. 9. In this type of envelope, the pocket forming patch 105 is applied directly over the window patch 106, In this instance, the leading patch from the roll 71 provides the window patch 106 and the following patch 89 provides the patch 105.

It is also within the scope of the machine illustrated in FIG. 5 to apply the second patch directly upon the first applied patch, depending upon the timing of the patch applicators. Also, a smaller patch may be applied directly upon a larger patch, or the patches may be of the same size, as when making envelopes with a plurality of pockets. -As with the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the form shown in FIG. 5 is illustrated between the supply stack supporting means and the collating mechanism. It is also true that this mechanism can be placed between the decollating mechanism and the folding mechanism.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for applying a plurality of patches in at least partial overlap in the direction of travel to each envelope blank under movement in consecutive order through a patch applying section of an envelope making machine, said apparatus including means near said section on which rolls of web material turn on axes with the web from one roll at least partially overlapping the web from the other roll,

separate means on said section of the machine for individually withdrawing the webs from the rolls in said overlapping relation,

a separate cutoff means in alignment with each Web withdrawing means for cutting off lengths of web material to provide a patch from each web,

means carried in said section of the machine for applying adhesives on one of the mating surfaces between said patches and blanks,

and means in line with the cutoff means for picking up said patches from the respective cutofi? means and applying the patches onto the blanks.

2. Apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said pickup means is a rotary member common to each cutoif means for applying said patches in consecutive order.

3. Apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said pickup means consists of a separate rotary member associated with a respective cutoff means.

4. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said patches are applied over windows in said blanks and the apparatus includes means in said section of the envelope making machine for cutting the Windows in areas of the blanks.

5. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the means for supporting the rolls of web material carries said rolls in tandem on said machine.

6. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the means for supporting the rolls of web material include pairs of brackets, with one pair spaced forwardly on the machine relatively to the other pair,

and spindle means carried by the brackets for providing the axes on which the rolls of web material turn.

7. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the means for supporting the rolls of web material include pairs of brackets, with one pair spaced forwardly on the machine relatively to the other,

spindle means carried by the brackets for providing the axes on which the rolls of web material turn in relative alignment with respect to direction of movement of the blanks for withdrawal of the webs one over the other,

and the patch pickup means applies the patches in consecutive order one over the other.

8. An apparatus as described in claim 1, in which the separate cutting means each include a backing member having fixed support across one of the webs of patch material for-backing one face of the web, and

a cutter having a projecting cutting edge cooperating with the backing member for cutting off the web,

said cutoff means being one in advance of the other and each serving the patch pickup means.

9. An apparatus as described in claim 1, in which the separate cutting means each include a backing member having fixed support across one of the webs of patch material for backing one face of the web,

and a cutter having a projecting cutting edge cooperating with the backing member for cutting off the web,

said cutoff means being one in advance of the other and each serving a separate patch pickup means.

10. Apparatus for applying a plurality of patches to each envelope blank under movement in consecutive order through a patch applying section of an envelope making machine, said apparatus including means near said section on which rolls of web material turn on axes,

separate means on said section of the machine for individually withdrawing the webs from the rolls,

a separate rotary cutoff means associated with each web withdrawing means for cutting off lengths of web material to provide a patch from each web,

means carried in said section of the machine for applying adhesives on one of the mating surfaces be tween said patches and blanks,

and common pickup means associated with the separate cutoff means for picking up said patches'from the respective cutoff means and applying the patches onto the blanks,

said cutoff means being spaced apart radially a distance sufficient to provide space between the respective en- 'velopes of rotation thereof. I

11. Apparatus as described in claim 10, wherein said pickup means is a rotary member.

12. An apparatus as described in claim 10, wherein said patches are applied over'windows in said blanks and the apparatus includes means in said section of the envelope making machine for cutting the Windows in areas of the blanks.

13. An apparatus as described in claim 10, in which the separate cutting means each include a backing member having fixed support across one of the Webs of patch material for backing one face of the web, and

a cutter having a projecting cutting edge cooperating with the backing member for cutting oh? the web. I

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,254,217 9/1941 Grupe 9361 XR 2,956,484 10/ 1960 Subklew 93-61 BERNARD STICKNEY, Primary Examiner. 

